Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-01

ing the head, hence the name. The
head is fiat and broad, as in all VEN
omous serpents; the eyes are large
and brightand the neck short. When
angry its appearance is ferocious in
the extreme. It is more dreaded
than the rattlesnake, from the fact
that it attacks without warning. It
will not attack at all, however, un-
less in defence. Dark places are ia
vored by it, although, like many
other serpents, poisonous and other,
it is often seen in the sun in pleas
ant weather. The poison fangs are
in the upper jaw. Owing to the
shortness and thickness of its body
its movements are comparatively
slow. 1t can not climb trees.
The cotton-mouth is found mostly
in the Southern States. Sometimes
it attains a length Of four feet. 1t is
not 80 'chunkey" as its copperhead
cousin, but is quicker in its move
ments, and its bite is fully as danger
Gus. Many persons have lost their
lives from wounds given by these
reptiles. 1t appears to be more cour-
ageous than the copperhead, and is
an, object of dread in the region where
| it abounds. There Is Kindred va
riety of snake also in the South
which is called by the name of moe
casin. Like the preceding one, it
has weakness for low grounds or
swamps, and is often seen in the
water.
THE RATTLEsNAKE.
The rattler is the most venomous
of all the reptiles found in the Unit
ed States. Like the copperhead and
cotton-mouth, it is native of North
America. 1t is found all over the
United States, but is most plentiful
in the Southwest, especially New
Mexico and Arizona. Professor
Cope estimates that fifteen species
of the rattler are known in this coun-
try. Those of New England differ
from the varieties found in Virginia
and North Carolina, and each differs
from the Georgia and Florida kinds,
while the varieties found in the Mis-
sissippi Valley possess peculiarities
distinct from those of other sections
ofthe country. The viperine snakes,
of which the puff adder (nOt known
in the United States) is a variety,
belongs to the same family as rat
tlesnake.
The rattlesnake derives its name
from the structure of its tail, which
is made of segments of bone, some
what loosely joined together. When
the reptile is about to advance and
bite its victim its whole body sWells
and shrinks like bellows, and its
tail is switched around with swift
ness and strength. The motion Of
the tail causes the segments of bone,
or "rattles," as they are popularity
called, to strike against each other.
This produces the dull, whirring
sound which gives the reptile its
name. When about to strike the
snake gathers itself in coil, the
head and tail being raised high above
the folds, and the eyes flashing. At
such moments its aspect is terrible
enough to frighten the bravest per-
son who is thus confronted for the
first time.
There are two common mistakes
connected with the rattler. One is
that the reptile acquires new rattle
every year, and another is that it
will follow up person who retreats
when it threatens to strike. The
number of rattles depends principally
on the size of the serpent. The indi-
vidual who falls back, whether in
good order or otherwise, when he
sees a rattlesnake about to strike,
need fear no pursuit. Even if the
reptile should follow, it could not 60
fast enough to Overtake man who
walked briskly.
The venom of the rattler's bite
varies with the season and condition
of the reptile. It is most to be fear
ed in the hottest months, and when
the snake is large and vigorous.
Stimulants, among which are alco-
holic liquors, are most effective. The
fatality attending rattlers' bites, how
ever, is not so high as popularity sup
posed.
The rattlesnake is generally pale
brown above. Dark brown bands
are drawn across the back, and a
number Of round spots of the same
hue are scattered along the sides and
neck. A dark streak runs along the
temples from heIback of the mouth
into large spot.
THE ROA roNcTp I(uroP
The boa constructor proper cannot
be said to be native of the United
States, but stories are told of anacon-
das-which are variety of this class
ofserpents-being found in New Mex
leo and Arizona. The boas are very
numerous family, and all are natives
of the tropical portions of America.
The python and the Natal rock
snakes, which are found in the tropics
of the Old World, are related to the
boas. All this family kill their prey
by crushing it to death, after which
they swallow it. None of the boas
are venomous. There Isl a small spe-
cies of the boa on the Pacific slope Of
the United States. 1t is called the
wenona, and rarely exceeds six or
seven feet in length.
The true boa is found in Mexico
and the Central American States, as
we'll as in South America. There
are four species of this serpent. Its
teeth are long and directed back
ward. The prey is held in the teeth,
while the serpent coils itself rapidly
around its victim, and then the snake
slowly but surely congresses it.
Large animals, like lions, tigers, and
oxen are crushed in this way, their
bones, according to the testimony of
hunters who have watched the pro-
cess, being snapped like pipestems.
After the prey is dead the snake COW
ers it with saliva, and then swallows
it. The jaws and body of the serpent
are capable of such dilation that oxen
have been known to be swallowed
by these snakes. After such a meal
as this the serpent lies in condition
of semi-torpidity for two or three
weeks, and while in it is readily
killed.
The true boa is one of the smallest
of the snakes of that class, rarely
being found longer than twelve feet.
The anaconda, which is not often seen
now north of Brazil, sometimes at
tains a length Of about forty feet.
The pythons of the Old World tropics